A Hindu mother wearing her emotions in her facial expression, exhaustion & disgust. She is one of the fortunate few who makes the trek to escape Muslim rioting during Partition sitting, riding a donkey into India. We see why she makes this emotional, arduous journey: her child, who she must breast feed in public, atop a donkey.

Like thousands of other refugees of Partition, this couple embarked upon a pilgrimage where everything was left behind but a few memories, traveling however they could, to a destination known simply as "away from here".

The massive exchange of population in the summer of 1947 was unprecedented. It left behind a trail of death and destruction, as people scrambled to get where the borders "suggested". Many say that these borders drawn within the Indian Subcontinent were done so almost at random. In a sense, the Indian map was slashed to make way for a new country-Pakistan. This picture shows 3 basic/common means of travel: being carried, by foot, and piling on a cargo carrying cycle.

Partition brought a literal flurry of trains, all redirected to cross the new borders. We can see here an example of how every single train, as well as any possible mode of transport, was packed inside & outside with refugees. Some even too frantic to be overcome with grief from losing their homeland and fear of an uncertain future. Fear & grief was the price paid for gaining just the *possibility* of saving their lives and starting anew on the other side of these newly drawn borders.

How You Can Help

ISPaD welcomes any and all donations of books, videos, research material that is relevant to Partition of the Indian Subcontinent. We also welcome donations of Partition-era memorabilia that people or organizations would be willing to part with, to be archived and put on display by our Project. The ISPaD Project has a standing appeal for interview candidates. Information about a potential donation of Partition-era memorabilia or potential interviewees is always welcomed, please do contact us by whatever means is easiest for you. Thank You!